Collapsible-tube closure



Feb. 16,1926. 1,573,333

C. C. WARTH COLLAPS IBLE TUBE CLO SURE Filed April 2', 1925 Patented Fears, 192a.

ra'rsu'r eerie lihlliT-Et) STATE CHIRIS'LIAH G. WARIH, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

GOLLAPSIBLE-TUBE CLOSURE.

Application filed April 2, 1925. Serial No. 20,166.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Cnmsrmn G. WAnTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in Spokane County, and State of llashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible-Tube Closures of'w'hiclithe following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in collapsible tube closures for use in connection with containers and dispensers of this type in which aint, soap, dental cream, shaving cream an other similar materials are packed. The primary object of the in-' vention is the provision of a closure of this type which is comparatively simple in conot' the usual type struction and composed of a minimum numberof parts-and therefore comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture.

The closure contemplates a detachable cap hinged to the head of the tube in such manner that the tube is efiectively closed when the cap is in place to'prevent evaporation ofmoisture from the contents of the tube, and the detachable or removable cap may readily be displaced tocomplet'ely uncover the mouth of the tube or outlet openingso that the contents of the tube may freely be dispensed when desired. Means are provided for retaining the cap in closed posi tion under s ring'pressure, and. means are also provide for holding the displaced cap in position out of the way when material is to e dispensedor squeezed from the tube, all as will hereinafter-be more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physicalv embodiment, of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged in. accordance with thebest mode 1 have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my inven' tion. A

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the upper portion of a collapsible tube with the closure of my invention applied thereto.

Figure Q is a vertical sectional view through the closure and head of the tube.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of theclosure showing in dotted lines the cap or closure in opened position.

The tube 1. illustrated in the drawings is for collapsible containers to: paints, dental, shaving or medical creams or pastes and similar materials,-the

material of which the tube is composed readily adapting it to be rolled upon itself as the contents are ejected or dispensed therefrom.

The head 2 on. the tube is rigid and provided with a throat or outlet passage 3, and on the top of the head is a circular ta cred seat 4 surrounding the opening 0 the throat 3.- A gasket or washer of suitable material,-indicated as 5, is preferably used on the dished or tapered seat 4 to insure. a close and uniform tit and seat for the closure in the form of a valve.

On the top of the tube head is mounted a cap 6 of rounded or circular shape and made up of suitable material. Atits under side or bottom 'this'cap is provided with a central conical valve head 7 of substan tially the same diameter as the head 2 of the tube. The conical valve head is of less diameter than its cap and projects therefrom to seat against the to race of the gasket or washer 5 on the tu e head. The valve head conforms to the shape of the valve seat and together these parts provide an etleitual closure or seal for the contents of the tube, in such manner that the closure cannot be displaced without pressure thereon.

In the top portion of the cap 6 is fashioned a narrow recess 8 arranged diametrh cally of the cap with its ends terminating near the periphery of the ca the lower end of the recess terminatin a ove and being closed bythe valve head b as shown. in Figure 2.

Atdiametrically 'op site points or the valve head are provi ed holes 9 and 10 that open at one end to the recess and at the other end open at the underside of the cap adjacent to the valve head, the longitudinal axis of these round holes being parallel with the outer face of the tubehcad as shown in Figure 2.

'Within'the recess ot the cap I arrange the coil 11 of a retaining spring or U-shaped yoke and the valve head portion '2' of the ca is grooved as at 11 to form a seat for this coil or loop. The retaining spring or Ushapedyoke is fashioned with parallel arms 12 and 13 that pass through the respective holes 9 and 10 of the cap and extend down alongside theup er portion of the tube head. At their on .s these arms terminets in angularly arranged pivot ins it that are seated in transversely 'sposecl tilt sockets l5 fashioned .in the outer face of the tube head.

The coil 11 of the spring yoke is held under tension by the pins let when the lat ter are snapped intotheir sockets and this tension of the coil retains the alve head of the cap in its seat in the tube head. To remove the valve head from its seat the cep, which may be knurled as indicated in Figure 1, is grasped between a finger and thumb and pulled away from the tube head, against increased tension .or compression of the spring coil. When the valve head hes been removed sutliciently from itsseat the cap is swung bodily on its pivot pins around the tube head to e-position at right angles to'i'ts original closed position. The mouth of the tube head is thus uncovered and material may freely be dispensed therefrom.

For retaining the cap in open os'ition and preventing it iroin wohbling provide a pair of parallel grooves 16 arrengedtengentially at the outer face of the tube head and intersecting the sockets 15, which grooves receive the arms 12 and 13 of the hinged yoke. It will he understood thet the material otthe yoke is resilient and the arms will snap into and out of the grooves'as the cap is swung in either direction. To replace the cap it is swung around and at the some time pulled out from the tube head until'the valve head is in position to be properly seated. Then when the pull onthe cap is released the spring yoke returns the valve head to its seat.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure hy" Letters Patent is- '1. The combination with a dispensinghead having a. valve seat and'opposed sockets, of e sockets, of e elosure cap halving messes closure cap heving tolfit said seat, a yoke heving a spring coil enclosed Within a recess in said cop end its ei'ms passed through holes in said cap,

'pins onthe ends oiseid arms seated in said sockets;

The combination with s. dispensing head having a valve seat, opposed. sockets,

end groovesintersecting said sockets, of e recessed closure 'ce'p having speced holes therein and a valve head on said ce havinge spring coil in the recessed head and arms located in said holes, and singular pivot pins on the ends of said arms seated in seid sockets.

3. The combination with e dispensing heed having a valve sent, opposed sockets and tangential grooves intersecting said a head to lit said seat and provided with spaced holes extending therethrongh, said cap being reeessed a-hove said head, a spring yoke having a coil disposed in. the recess of se'id cep hearing on said head and retained between the WttliS of the recess, flexible spring arms on said yoke extending from said coil through said holes in the head, and angular pivot; pins on the ends of said arms for engagement in the sockets of said dispensing heed. e V K t. A tube closure comprising a. cap of greet-er diameter than the tuhe'and having e narrow longitudinal recess closed at the bottom, and e spying coil retained in said recess 'perellel with Wells thereof, the ends of said coil being piissed through said cap for ettaehing engagement with the sides of the tube.

In testimony whereof I atiix signature.

CH'RXSTIAN C. WARTH.

and angular pivot tit) 

